The artist Tina Reid has been venturing into the outside. Her interest in gardening has led her to combine her gardening skills with her art making to create two large living sculptures in the Farmhouse Garden.

With the help of the parks and garden team at Stevenage Borough Council she was able to source willow that was due to coppiced in the park. This was the perfect use local resource.

She invited fellows at the farmhouse to take part in creating sculptures around the garden. Mike Tanti (garden designer) helped with locating and mapping out designs. Whilst all fellow artists and friends helped to build, weave the willow into two sculptures.

Students from Barnwell School spent an afternoon at the farmhouse also helped with weaving. The whole process was communal and brought everyone together in a positive way. Everyone is looking forward to enjoying the sculptures in the summer.

The work was done during early spring before the rains came. The wildlife took an interest instantly to the new objects in the garden. A Robin came to investigate first and a fritillary type butterfly basked on a whip in the sun. There are now lovely green shoots popping up all over the sculptures. There changing nature will be fascinating to watch.